“Without moving for a no-confidence motion against the government and the Speaker, he (Tara Bahinipati) moved a privilege motion against OTV, the channel which exposed the reality how the Speaker is managing the business of House on the directives of the ruling party. Condemning the move to throttle the voice of media, I have decided to quit from my post,” said Panda at a presser today.

Koraput MLA Tara Bahinipati had on November 20 brought a Breach of Privilege motion against OTV after the channel telecast a factual report on how the Parliamentary Affairs minister spoke to the secretary of the Assembly who then was seen and heard prompting the Speaker to adjourn the house.

The issue has snowballed into a controversy with journalists and intellectuals across Odisha as well as political leaders condemning the privilege motion brought against media at the behest of BJD.

Earlier, Bahinipati had stated that only after discussions it will be ascertained whether it was his personal or party’s stand.